clock

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈkläk 

plural clocks

often attributive

1

: a device other than a watch for indicating or measuring time commonly by means of hands moving on a dial

broadly : any periodic system by which time is measured

2

: a registering device usually with a dial

specifically : odometer

3

: time clock

4

: a synchronizing device (as in a computer) that produces pulses at regular intervals

5

: biological clock

see also a race against the clock

clock

2 of 3

verb

clocked; clocking; clocks

transitive verb

1

a

: to time with a stopwatch or by an electric timing device

b

: to be timed at

2

: to register on a mechanical recording device

wind velocities were clocked at 80 miles per hour

3

: to hit hard

4

chiefly British : attain, realize

—usually used with up

just clocked up a million … paperback sales

—Punch

5

a

: to travel (a distance) over time

clocks more than 15,000 miles a year on business

b

: put in sense 3

clocking long hours at the office

intransitive verb

1

: to have a specified duration or speed

—used with in

the movie clocked in at just under 3 hours

broadly : to have a specified measure or value

—used with in

the meal clocked in at about $15

2

: to register on a time sheet or time clock : punch

—used with in, out, on, off

he clocked in late

clocker noun

clock

3 of 3

noun (2)

: an ornamental figure on the ankle or side of a stocking or sock

Phrases

against the clock

1

: with or within a time constraint

working against the clock

2

: with clocked speed rather than the order of finish as the criterion for placement

trial races against the clock

around the clock or less commonly round the clock

1

: continuously for 24 hours : day and night without cessation

2

: without relaxation and heedless of time

kill the clock or run out the clock

: to use up as much as possible of the playing time remaining in a game (such as football) while retaining possession of the ball or puck especially to protect a lead

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• timer
• timekeeper
• chronometer
• timepiece

Verb

• knock
• punch
• slap
• smack
• hit
• bang
• strike
• clip
• clap
• whack
• slam
• pound
• bat
• box
• swipe
• crack
• kick

Examples of clock in a Sentence

Noun (1)

the clock reads 5:00 p.m.

Verb

He clocked 3 hours and 15 minutes in his last marathon.

His fastest pitch was clocked at 91 miles per hour.

The cop said she clocked me going 95 miles per hour.

I was so angry I wanted to clock him.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That point is underlined by a large countdown clock that investor/patron Uncle Jimmy (Oliver Platt) has placed in the kitchen. —Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 27 June 2025

The motif of the new season is a clock that Uncle Jimmy (Oliver Platt) unceremoniously plonks down in the kitchen, counting the number of hours until the restaurant runs out of funds. —Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 26 June 2025

Verb

Friday’s first round ultimately clocked in at more than four hours. —Carol Schram, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025

Spending spiked this fiscal year, with monthly averages between July 2024 and May 2025 clocking in at $7.8 million for a total of $86.3 million for the 11-month span, an analysis of the data showed. —Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald, 27 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English clok, from Middle Dutch clocke bell, clock, from Old French or Medieval Latin; Old French dialect (Picard) cloque bell, from Medieval Latin clocca, of Celtic origin; akin to Middle Irish clocc bell

Noun (2)

perhaps from clock entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1883, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

1530, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing clock

• alarm clock
• a race against the clock
• atomic clock
• banjo clock
• beat the clock
• biological clock
• body clock
• clean one's clock
• clock off/out
• clock radio
• clock up
• clock-watcher
• cuckoo clock
• eat up/run out/kill the clock
• grandfather clock
• internal clock
• longcase clock
• shot clock
• the clock
• time clock
• turn back the clock
• watch the clock
• water clock

Rhymes for clock

• balk
• baulk
• bloc
• bock
• broch
• brock
• calk
• caulk
• chalk
• chock
• cock
• croc

Kids Definition

clock

1 of 2 noun

ˈkläk 

1

: a device for measuring or telling the time and especially one not meant to be worn or carried about by a person

2

: a registering device with a dial that is attached to a machine to measure or record what it is doing

3

: a device (as in a computer) that sends out signals at regular spaces of time so that other events can happen in the correct order

clock

2 of 2 verb

1

: to time (as a person or a piece of work) by a timing device

2

: to show (as time or speed) on a recording device

winds clocked at 80 mph

3

: to hit hard

Etymology

Noun

Middle English clok "clock," from early Dutch clocke "bell, clock," from early French cloque "bell" or Latin clocca "bell"; of Celtic origin — related to cloak

Medical Definition

clock

noun

ˈkläk 

: biological clock